rebuttal
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of rebuttal
Explanation
When two people debate, one of them makes an argument, and the other follows with a rebuttal, which, plainly put, is the "No, you're wrong, and this is why" argument. We often associate rebuttals with arguments made in the courtroom or public debates that occur around election time, but the word can really apply to any situation in which an argument is put forth and someone disagrees and explains why. Sports fans, for instance, like to argue about the likely winner of an upcoming game, and when you make a case for why your friend is wrong, you are offering a rebuttal of his argument.
Vocabulary lists containing rebuttal
Argumentative Writing
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Rhetoric
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The AP English Exam: Rhetorical and Literary Terms 1
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Rebuttal: Apple has said its control over the technology makes iPhones more secure than other smartphones.
From New York Times • Mar. 21, 2024
Rebuttal: The Atlantic is a broad ocean and the next war is not here yet.
From Time Magazine Archive
Rebuttal: It is merely price-stabilization, the cost of which is borne by the equilization fund.
From Time Magazine Archive
Rebuttal: Embargo or no embargo, the U. S. is going to have a huge war trade, for the Allies will need war materials.
From Time Magazine Archive
Rebuttal speeches are additional speeches allowed to some or all the speakers of a debating team after the regular argumentative speeches have been delivered.
From Public Speaking by Stratton, Clarence
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
